Molinaro resigns from Pemberton council

No reasons given for resignation

Photo submitted.STEPPING DOWN Village of Pemberton councillor Joanne Molinaro has resigned from council.

Village of Pemberton (VOP) councillor Joanne Molinaro has resigned from council.

Molinaro made the announcement Thursday night on her Facebook page.

"I was greatly honoured to have been elected and want to say a very large thank you to the people of Pemberton," Molinaro wrote.

"I have enjoyed the brief time I have served on Council."

Molinaro was elected to VOP council in November of last year.

In a follow-up interview, she said she'll be keeping her reasons for resigning private.

"It was a really, really difficult decision for me to make, but ultimately it's one I felt I had to make," she said.

Mayor Mike Richman said Molinaro's resignation came as a surprise, but he respects her decision.

"She was a great contributor," he said. "She had a good, balanced voice and she'll certainly be missed at the table, but we wish her the very best."

Richman said Molinaro's committee assignments will be reviewed at the VOP's next meeting of council on September 1.

The resignation means a byelection will be held this fall to replace Molinaro — Richman said the nomination packages will be available at the VOP's offices on September 2. While he didn't know the exact costs, Richman estimated the byelection will cost the VOP somewhere in the area of $10,000 to $15,000.